Built in 1956, the home was commissioned by Bernardine and I.N. Hagan and features cantilevered ceilings, extensive woodwork and a focus on blurring the line between indoors and out.

The home was purchased from the Hagan family in 1986 by Lord Polumbo of London, England, who then opened the building for public tours in 1996. Within the walls of the house, visitors will find displayed a collection of Lord Polumbo’s museum-quality artifacts, consisting primarily of furniture and sculpture.

Art-lovers take note: the creative works on display at Kentuck Knob extend far beyond the structure and the collections held therein. Below the home, in the lower portion of the 80-acre woodland property, lies the sculpture garden—an outdoor gallery of contemporary art featuring the work of a variety of artists.

More photos of the property are available on the Do Johnstown! Flickr page.

Kentuck Knob is open to the public for guided tours from March through December of each year. For pricing, tour-type options and more, visit http://www.kentuckknob.com or call (724) 329-1901.

Kentuck Knob is located at 723 Kentuck Road, Dunbar, PA 15431 (click here for a map).

The structure that formerly held St. George’s Serbian Orthodox Church is being transformed into a facility that is part gallery, part performance space, part education center. “We wanted to find a way to repurpose this magnificent structure,” says Adam. “The goal is to bring it back to the public.”

VOMA is more than a unique venue—it’s a part of the community. While primarily an art structure, the central theme is education and appreciation of the arts. Efforts are still underway, but the plans are firmly in place and will roll out over the course of the coming year. This includes a fine art gallery and exhibition areas for both music and performance art.

Keeping focused on education, VOMA will be presenting lecture series on pottery, fine art, music and even cooking. Adam says these classes “will provide an opportunity for local artists to speak to the public on their craft and their approach.”

On Saturday, February 6^th, 2010 the public will have the opportunity to support this cause by attending “V.O.M.A. Dawning”, a fundraising event held at Ace’s on Chestnut Street, Johnstown, PA (click here for a map) that will feature an evening of live jazz music, a silent auction and more. Complete details are available on the VOMA blog (see below for URL).

Official online presences for VOMA include:

• Web site
• Blog
• Facebook

Artists interested in learning more about the venue should contact VOMA by calling (814) 410-2245 or by emailing voma.arts (-at-) yahoo.com.

The Venue of Merging Arts is located at 307 Chestnut Street, Johnstown, PA (click here for a map).

Photograph courtesy of Shawn Schmalz

709 Railroad Street is both the name and location of one of Johnstown, PA’s most unique entertainment venues. Located on the edge of downtown Johnstown, the establishment is part music club, part art gallery, part community gathering area.

The mainstay of the facility is live music performances, featuring original music from artists in the Punk, Indie, Hardcore and, occasionally, Metal genres. Averaging a show each week, the location draws acts from near and far.

Typically, shows feature as many as five or six bands performing in a single evening. All shows are all-ages and generally end around 10:00PM, providing teens and young adults with a terrific entertainment opportunity.

709 Railroad Street is part of an East Coast touring route that caters to bands of similar style (punk, hardcore, etc.). Being a part of this network of approximately 50 stops between New England and Florida brings a wide-selection of bands for area residents to enjoy.

Founded and managed by a collective of area artists and musicians, 709 Railroad Street provides an ideal opportunity for young creatives to showcase their art. A key part of the facility is, in fact, its art gallery, which features a new art opening quarterly. “Johnstown is a great place to live inexpensively and have time to focus on your art,” says Promoter/Musician Mikey D’Angelo. “Plus, there is a great creative network here to support you.”

According to Mr. D’Angelo, since opening in August 2007 the venue has hosted the premier of 125 artistic offerings, including art collections, books, CD releases, art performances and film screenings.

The common area of 709 Railroad Street speaks to the community ideal of the collective. Furnished for comfortable socializing, the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and includes a community library that features classic literature, do-it-yourself books, and volumes on art and design.

709 Railroad Street events are always listed in the Do Johnstown! calendar and select photos are available at the Do Johnstown! Flickr photostream.

Bands wishing to perform at the venue can contact promoters by emailing bands_709 (-at-) yahoo.com.

Artists interested in scheduling a showing of their wares should contact Jacob Koestler, Art Curator, by emailing art_709 (-at-) yahoo.com.

Official online presences for 709 Railroad Street include:

• MySpace
• Facebook
• My Idea of Fun
• Vocal Youth

709 Railroad Street is located at (surprise, surprise!) 709 Rail Street, Johnstown, PA (click here for a map).